The seasonal savvy shopper needs a plan of action. We present (pun intended!) our tips on how to approach Christmas shopping, avoid stress and get the best deals.
The seasonal savvy shopper should always be prepared. So get a proper piece of paper and a pen and make a list (if you prefer something hi-tech, we like
ToDoist).To help you out, we've put together a list of people who sometimes get forgotten. Of course you don't have to include everyone (unless you're a millionaire), but is someone special included here?
- School: teachers, classroom assistants, dinner ladies, lollipop men/women, school mums, kids best friends, brownie/dance class leaders, bus driver
- Work: secret santa, watercooler best friend, boss, supplier
- Home: neighbours (especially elderly or anyone alone)
Keep a sticky note on your desk and jot down anyone who comes to mind.
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Don't be afraid to split up a gift set *gasp*. We know, lovely packaging etc. etc. But sometimes it just makes sense to buy a set then split it up. Gift sets are always good value and individual items are cheaper than if you bought them alone. Plus you often find exclusives that aren't available elsewhere. Then there's Secret Santa - getting something nice on a tiny budget can be hard, so look out for sets you can split.
How about
this Penhaligon's scent library, where you can get 10 stocking filler fragrances from a bespoke Parfumier, for under £2 each! Or this
Sarah Jessica Parker set that can be split into (gift one) the 100ml fragrance + (gift two) body lotion & rollerball, at a cost of just £11 for each gift (and a gorgeous storage box for you!). Consider it, that's all we're saying.
Know you'll be buying fragrance, but don't know their scent?
There are a few ways round this, so eyes down:
Espionage - the easy option, you rope in a spouse or take a detour past their bedroom and see what's on the dresser
Subterfuge - next time you're together say "wow what's that fragrance you're wearing? It's lovely". They'll usually respond with "Oh it's XYZ" or else tell you they don't wear fragrance. If it's the latter, pay attention to why (maybe they're allergic) or what they think you're smelling eg their soap (that's a clue they like clean, fresh scents)
The Blatant Option - ask them! The earlier you do it, the less they'll associate you asking with Christmas
Get Clever - encourage people to use our Christmas printables to hint/downright tell you what they want
If you're really stuck but you don't want to give a voucher, our advice is to buy a gentle fragrance then have it gift wrapped and dispatched direct by our team. That way the recipient can always exchange without you needing to know...
We suggest Ghost The Fragrance for her or Davidoff Cool Water For Men |
It's easy to get carried away - this is where the seasonal savy shopper's trusty list comes in! Next to each name write a fragrance or gift idea and a rough amount you want to spend. Use our
Christmas shop to shop by price or category and you'll easily stay on-budget.
We hope you enjoyed our seasonal savvy shopper tips - have some of your own? Comment below or leave us a message on our social accounts, we'd love to hear from you!Please note: prices correct at time of publication.
